Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-29
BOOMING WICHITA.
Geo. NJ. West Tells of Sights Seen and
Impressions Gained in Kansas.

BOOMING WICHITA.
Geo. NJ West Tells of Sights Seen and
Il Impressions Gained in Kansas.
Letter from the Red Oak Qnd) Sun.
i WICHITA, Kas., June -, 1S87.-At 10:-
80 a. m left Atchison, and it was with
some curiosity that / entered upon the
journey to Wichita. l had heard and
read so mnch about bleeding Kansas, %
grasshopper Kansas, the land of stones and
sand, that expected to find portions of it
like the plains of Shinar, where the sand
driven by the winds raised in clouds that
obscured the sun, and rendered sterile and
barren the hills and valleys that perhaps
had smiled in plenty. But little sand or
stone are to be seen. Perhaps l found
Kansas with her best clothes on. upon my
first visit within her border. The appear
ance of the country from AtchisOn to
Wichita is similar to that OF Montgomery
county between Red Oak and Milford. as
you 60 by way of Frankfort; some rolling
land, some hills, some swales, and now
and then point that indicates gravel or
stone. In tIaversing so much OF the state
it would be strange not to see now and then
a stone quarry or coal mine. VI these
Kansas has an abundance, but they might
have been little more judiciously distri-
buted. By dint of industry, the prolific
source of so many enjoyments, Kansas is
being made to bloom like rose. and her
soil is producing abundantly in fruit. grass,
corn, wheat and vegetables. The oats
crop this year is like the Negro who said
he had sown two bushels and had gathered
two bushels again. This country is also
| haSp no
crop beginning before the old crop ma
lures.
have been in Wichita 10 days and for
the past week it has rained every day or
night
don't know how to describe Wichita.
I realize how Rip Van Wrinkle felt after his
long nap Perhaps left too dead place
and the change has been too sudden.
When the queen of Sheba visited Solomon
and had returned, she exclaimed that the
half had not been told; SO 1t Is
with this place. Newspaper cores
pondents get just as much 1or
writing a lie as for telling the truth
and people look with suspicion on glow
ing account of booming city, but can
truthfully say that this city beats any other
that have seen in real estate transfers ana
in improvements. | mean Individual
money being put into improvements: l
have not made the acquaintance OF any OF
the city dads, but l should say they were
not equal 20 the emergency. The city IN
places is full of filth and dirt; they have no
good system of sewerage, are excavatlng
on Topeka avenue and for miles it IS open
and no temporary bridges provided for the
people think from observation that the
mayor and city dads expect to get good
price for what they have got and leave. II
they manifest any interest in the affairs OF
the city they have poor way of showing
it. Meme of the streets are paved or ma
cadamized. Other cities of less wealth
and population are far ahead in this re-
spect. have visited nearly all the large
cities from New York to San Francisco,
and from the West Indies to Detroit and
Duluth have been in Omaha quite
often in the past two years, and
can say that never saw so much building
being done The two principal streets,
Main and Douglas, are thronged with
people, and if it were not for the one and
two story houses, the wayfarer would
think he was in the principal streets of
New York, San Francisco, Chicago or st.
Louis | have witnessed almost as large a
jam of people here as in any city, except
New York at the time of the great riot,
and Chicago at the conclave seven years
ago Speaking of two story buildings,
they are giving way to three and four
story buildings, and by next year six and
eight will be going up, for there will be a
demand for the rooms, and the realty is so
high that they wilYhave to build higher in
order to get fair interest on capital in
vested Rents are too high. A store like
Killers old stand in the opera house block
would rent here for 5000 month, but per
haps this will equalize itself The boom
that has been here is of late birth, but APP
pears to be healthy, and | think it has come
to stay.
Wichita is situated On the Arkansas
river, the greater portion Of the city on the
east side 1t can be made one of the most
beautiful and healthful cities between the
two oceans is a good place in which to
live, and | don't know but good place in
which to die, for none of those that have
died here have been heard to complain. 1t
is almost impossible to get building ma
terial as fast as needed. From $50, 900 to
$3.50, 900 worth of building contracts are
let every week. | made bids on $65, 900
worth Yesterday, but got beat. Building |
IlldleTldi Is Dut lltJlc HlSHtI utIc tudu Ill
Red Oak. can buy some grades cheaper |
here Lath, shingles and lime are cheaper |
Groseries and provisions are about the |
same here as in Iowa, and it is expected |
that they will get cheaper, for the |
Santa Fe road has opened a line
to the gulf that brings the place |
four days nearer to New York than by
way of Chicago or st. Louis. This; l
think, will be of great value to Wichita. |
Wichita is lacking in factories. She has
some small ones. l am informed that |
boot and shoe factory will open soon with |
a capital of 100000 This place could !
and would support large packing house
and large canning works, for Wichita is
alive all over.
have received my letters patent from
Washington for my railroad builder and |
now l want to find some of these railroad
contractors and put them in the way to
become rich. With regards to all inquir-
ing friends. particularly The Sun, am
very respectfully yours.
G.. NJ. WEST.
LA JUNTA ALL RIGHT